CHESS TOURNAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18751, 3 January 1923, Page 6

CHESS TOURNAMENT

(Put United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 2. The eighth round of the play in connection with the Chess Congress took place to-day : Coombs v. N. Kelling.—This was Queen’s gambit declined, in which both players got an even development of pieces. The early exchanges shortened the middle game which still gave no advantage to either player. Coombs posted a knight strongly at king’s fifth, but gave up a knight for a bishop, and subsequently won a pawn. In the early, end game Coombs hart a promising position which he failed to make the best of. Kelling had to play most carefully to ward off defeat, Coombs having passed a pawn on queen knight’s file, queen and two pawns. Kelling had three pawns opposite, and Coombs two pawns and also a queen. Coombs avoided the perpetual check that was threatening, and was within an ace of queening the pawn when Kelling interposed a queen, giving check, and forced off a queen and a pawn for a queen. A draw resulted on the sixty-seventh move. Stevens v. M’Crae.—M’Crae adopted the French offence, which tempted Stevens to play Gledhill attack. Stevens obtained a good working combination, though his pawn development rather hindered his bishops movements. He posted a knight at queen knight’s fifth, but failed to weaken M’Crea’s position. In manoeuvring for position M'Crea broke through king rooks file, and doubled queen and rook for attack. Stevens had to seal a move at the adjournment, but by a literary slip he indicated a move that would enable M’Crea to win a rook. Stevens resigned without further play. EIGHTH AND NINTH ROUNDS. iPkb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 2. Following *aro the results in the eighth round of the chess championships: Dunlop v. Severne. —Dunlop opened with the Ruy Lopez, Severne adopting the Morphy defence. Dunlop developed rooks at king’s and queen’s squares, and changed off Severne’s knight at queen bishop’s third, isolating Severne’s rook’s pawn. He pushed forward king’s pawn, supported by queen, bishop, and rook, and Severne was forced to make exchanges. Dunlop later accepted exchange of rooks offered by Severne. Dunlop followed with an attack upon rook and pawn, winning the pawn. l Later he won a second pawn, and with the exchange of queens had certainly the better position. Ho made an oversight later which cost him the exchange and the end game which resulted was. 'eft adjourned for a third session, Severno’s position promising him a win. , , Roberts v. Pihl. —The Queen Bishop s Gambit was played by Roberts, Pihl declining to accept the Gambit. Both sides were developed very carefully, but Roberts, by pinning knighl with queen at rook’s fourth, won a pawn. A great struggle took place lor possession of Pirn's pawn at queen bishop’s second, and in the resulting exchanges Pihl saved the pawn, but lost a rook for a knight. A long end gome resulted. end Pihl by his superior strategy worked up from the weaker position until he won the game. NINTH ROUND. Andersen v. Miller.—Miller adopted the French Defence, Andersen getting a fine open game with two centre files dominated by queen and two rooks. Miller’s pieces seemed massed on the queen side, and ne castled with queoTs rook behinda broken pawn position. He moved queen s rook to king knight’s square and pushed on the king side pawns, opening both files and threatening a mating position. In themeantime Anderson threatened with queen bishop and rooks to break through on the. queen s side. Both players were able to provide a safe defence, and exchanges left Anderson with a pawn advantage, but his rooxs so that Miller forked them with knight and won the exchange. Andersen played the end game well, but Miller’s rooks and knight combination proved too strong, and Andersen was forced to resign. Dunlop v. Stevens—Tins was the \ lenna Gambit game, Stevens taking the Gambit pawn Stevens developed bishop at king knight’s second, and established a strong diagonal of pawns to bishop s fifth. Dunlop combined rook, knight, and queen m a sharp attack, and checking with queen won Stevens’s knight. Later Stevens exchanged a valuable bishop for a knight, doubling and isolating Dunlop s pawns on queen bishop’s ide. Dunlop here played well within his queen bishop and rook, breaking down Steven s tack and forcing exchanges which left him with a winning position, when btevens Pihl.—Gyles played the Vienna game, and the encounter proved exciting, the position being always m the melting pot. 1 Pihl changed off knights doubling Gvles’s pawns on the queen bishop s hie, and later, checking with the queen, he forced Gyles to change off queens. Ihia left Pihl's centre pawn weak., otherwise the position was very even. Pihl lost a bishop for two pawns and Gyles winning the advantage the pawn on the king s file was able to force a win in fine style. Severne v. Buchan.-This was a four knights game, a favourite of Severne a. An exchange of knights opened queen bishop’s file for white, and king rooks for black. Severne’a move a pawn to king bishon’s fourth, was a hindrance to Buchan s development. However, he made his king secure at knight’s second, and obtained a very free position for rooks and queen. He skirmished for advantage Kind "°n Sovemo’s doubled pawn on queen bishop s file At the adjournment the positions were fairly equal; but on resuming Severn© won the exchange and in a few minutes won Buchan’s resignation., . . , Kelling v. M’Crea,—M’Crea adopted the French defence against Kelling. who seemed to get the better of the opening, M Urea relieving his cramped position by a T iPj°D r exchange of pawns in the centre. Mplling was soon attacking with queen supported by bishop, failing, however, to break down M’Crea's defence. There was much pretty play for position, and in the end M’Crea got' rather a good attack with queen and knight, and doubled rooks. Kelling made an adequate defence, but later moved a queen from the support of a knight, which M’Crea captured, forcing an exchange of rooks. Subsequently M’Crea brought off a very pretty mate in four.